Two Terex CC2800-1 crawler cranes, each crawler crane configured differently, have been an essential part of the construction of 15 wind turbines at Iowa Wind Farm. Those 15 wind turbines generate electrical power to over 11,000 family homes per year and the project of constructing them would be impossible without these two crawler cranes. In addition to generating an enormous amount of electrical power, the wind turbines will save more than 55% of carbon dioxide, about 360 tons of sulfur dioxide and about 200 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions.
Why Terex CC2800-1?
The 660-ton crawler crane by Terex is the most efficient performer of its class and the efficiency was the deciding factor for this requiring project. The maximum load torque of this crawler crane is 36000 kNm and the maximum boom length of 138 meters. Although the Terex CC2800-1 features a Superlift system, both crawler cranes did not use it during the construction of these wind turbines, because it did not require an increased loading capacity. Also, it saved a valuable amount of assembly/disassembly time. With lifting capacity of 660 tons and engine power of 390 kW, the Terex CC2800-1 crawler crane was the best choice for this project. In fact, two CC2800-1 crawler cranes were used for this project.
The crawler cranes and the rest of the crew started the project with pouring the foundations of the wind turbines, which involved about a half kilometer of concrete. The 100-meter-tall wind turbines were soon erected, one turbine on every 2-3 day. Each turbine required seven lifts: five for the tower segments, one for the blade and hub assembly and one for the nacelle (consisted of a generator, deck, cooling equipment and gearbox). These tall wind turbines were a big challenge, as they required a wind shear of about 100 meters above the ground.
As mentioned above, the crawler cranes were not configured same. One Terex crawler crane was specifically configured with maximum counterweight and boom of exact length to lift the upper two tower sections, the blade assembly and the nacelle. The other crawler crane was configured shorter, especially for erecting the first three tower segments to a height of 61 meters. For transportation from one tower to another, each crawler crane required a partial dismantling.
Once the three base tower segments of all wind turbines were set, both Terex crawler cranes were featured with longer booms to help in finishing the wind turbines. These two crawler cranes completed their job in only a month, leaving the finishing touch to another company.
Why Terex CC2800-1?
The 660-ton crawler crane by Terex is the most efficient performer of its class and the efficiency was the deciding factor for this requiring project. The maximum load torque of this crawler crane is 36000 kNm and the maximum boom length of 138 meters. Although the Terex CC2800-1 features a Superlift system, both crawler cranes did not use it during the construction of these wind turbines, because it did not require an increased loading capacity. Also, it saved a valuable amount of assembly/disassembly time. With lifting capacity of 660 tons and engine power of 390 kW, the Terex CC2800-1 crawler crane was the best choice for this project. In fact, two CC2800-1 crawler cranes were used for this project.
The crawler cranes and the rest of the crew started the project with pouring the foundations of the wind turbines, which involved about a half kilometer of concrete. The 100-meter-tall wind turbines were soon erected, one turbine on every 2-3 day. Each turbine required seven lifts: five for the tower segments, one for the blade and hub assembly and one for the nacelle (consisted of a generator, deck, cooling equipment and gearbox). These tall wind turbines were a big challenge, as they required a wind shear of about 100 meters above the ground.
As mentioned above, the crawler cranes were not configured same. One Terex crawler crane was specifically configured with maximum counterweight and boom of exact length to lift the upper two tower sections, the blade assembly and the nacelle. The other crawler crane was configured shorter, especially for erecting the first three tower segments to a height of 61 meters. For transportation from one tower to another, each crawler crane required a partial dismantling.
Once the three base tower segments of all wind turbines were set, both Terex crawler cranes were featured with longer booms to help in finishing the wind turbines. These two crawler cranes completed their job in only a month, leaving the finishing touch to another company.